The U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Mike Hammer, is scheduled to arrive in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday. His visit, part of a multinational tour, will focus on reviewing the implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. This follows his previous visit in July 2024, when he attended the African Union’s second meeting on the agreement’s progress.

Ambassador Hammer is expected to stay until Saturday, September 13th. Notably, his itinerary does not include a visit to Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. However, a delegation from Tigray, led by Interim President Getachew Reda, is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, coinciding with the Ethiopian New Year.

Last Tuesday, the U.S. State Department reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting both the Ethiopian government and the Tigray Interim Administration in their pursuit of lasting peace. Italy also emphasized this commitment.

Before arriving in Ethiopia, Ambassador Hammer visited Kenya for discussions on regional and security issues with Kenyan officials.

The Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Pretoria in November 2022. Despite progress in the initial phase, key aspects of the agreement, including the return of millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes, remain unresolved nearly 20 months after its signing.